ConnDOT: CTDOT ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NHHS RAIL PROGRAM

2017

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546

NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: February 20, 2017

CTDOT ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NHHS
RAIL PROGRAM

Funds will Support CTrail Hartford Line Service

Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced that the State Bond Commission approved
$50 million in additional funding for the New-Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS)
Rail Program during its February 1, 2017 meeting.

The funding will support the design and environmental permitting
for new CTrail Hartford Line
stations in North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks and Enfield as well as 7.5
miles of double track from Windsor to Enfield. This funding
will also support the construction of approximately 4 miles of double track between
Hartford and Windsor, which is currently underway.

Commissioner Redeker stated, “The funding approved by the State Bond
Commission reinforces our State’s continued commitment to providing new
regional passenger rail service on the Hartford Line, which will become the
newest component of a robust and vibrant multi-modal regional transportation
system.”

Scheduled to launch in 2018, the CTrail Hartford
Line will offer more frequent, convenient and faster passenger rail service
between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield by increasing the number of round
trip trains from six daily Amtrak intercity and regional trains to a total of
17 round trip trains a day to Hartford, and 12 trains per day to
Springfield. The majority of the existing rail stations will be replaced
and several new stations will be built. The expanded service and new
stations are expected to increase ridership, improve the high speed and
passenger rail system serving the northeast, expand intermodal transportation
options, encourage economic development and create more livable and sustainable
communities.